Automatic current cutoff switch for vehicles



M y 19410 5. E. GRAY 2,240,615

AUTOMATIC CURRENT CUTOFF SWITCH FOR VEHICLES Filed June 12, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet l Sine .ZZT

A iibrney May 6, 1941. s. E. GRAY AUTOMATIC CURRENT CUTOFF SWITCH FORVEHICLES Filed Jufie I2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor M n ma,

A ttorney Patented May 6, 1941 AUTOMATIC CURRENT CUTO'FF SWITCH FORVEHICLES Stene E. Gray, Hot Springs, Ark.

Application June 12, 1940, Serial No. 340,179

3 Claims.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in automaticswitches for vehicles and more particularly to a. switch which willoperate to cut off current to the various electrical devices andappliances of a vehicle in the event the vehicle turns over in anaccident.

An important object of the invention is to provide a switch which whenonce operated to cut off the current, will remain cut off in spite ofthe fact that the vehicle again rights itself.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an automaticswitch of the character stated which can be easily re-set after it hasbeen automatically operated as a result of antics or contortions of avehicle during an accident.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a startershowing the switch mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the switch.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the upper section of the switchwith portions broken away.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view through the uppersection of the switch.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch showing theconductive material in the outside compartment.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch showing theliquid in the outside compartment after the switch has been righted.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, itcan be seen that numeral 5 represents the lower cylindrical section,while numeral 6 denotes the upper cap section. The lower cylindricalsection 5 has the thickened bottom portion a bored to snugly butremovably receive the lower portion of the tube 1 of insulation. Thesections 5 and 6 are also of insulation and as can be seen in Figure 3,the lower end of .the tube 1 preferably rests against the blocks 8 ofcurrent conductive material. This block 8 is dovetailed into the lowersection 5 and has threaded openings thereof registering with threadedopenings in the section 5 for the purpose of accommodating suitablescrew members which also secure the lower section 5 to the bracket 9which is secured in place on the starter portion a is counterbored todefine the outside compartment l4 and a port [5 extends downwardly fromthe bottom of this compartment [4 to terminate at a level with theopening [6 in the side of the tube 1 which is normally horizontallyoffset with respect to the port I5.

The upper portion of the section 5 is threaded and engaged into theinternally threaded lower portion of the cap section 6. The cap section5 is of insulation and the tube 1 is of like material and can be formedintegrally therewith, the tube depending from the central portion of thetop thereof and at that point having a suitable number of openings inthe form of slits l'l therein.

The contact or electrode post l8 extends longitudinally in the tube 1 inspaced relation therewith, the same terminating at its lower end abovethe lower end of the tube and at its upper end being reduced to define ashoulder to abut the underside of the top of the section 6. This reducedportion is threaded and extends through the top of the section B todefine a binding post on which one or more nuts I9 are disposed.

In the thus defined inner compartment 20 is a volume of currentconductive liquid 2|. Normally an electrical connection is establishedbetween the block 8 and the electrode [8 through the fluid 2|. However,in the event the vehicle upon which this switch is mounted turns over,the switch in moving to a horizontal position and beyond such ahorizontal position will discharge its liquid content 2| from the innercompartment 20, through the openings ll into the outer compartment It,as suggested in Figure 8 and should the vehicle right itself, the liquidwill be in the outer compartment I l and there will be no electricalconnection between the block 8 and the electrode l8. Thus the currentwill be shut off and there will be no chance of liberated gasolinecatching fire.

It is a simple matter to re-establish the electrical connection. Allthat is necessary is to unscrew the cap section 6 slightly so that theopening I6 registers with the port I5 and the conductive liquid 2| willflow downwardly from its position as shown in Figure 9 to the lowerportion of the compartment 20.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the lower portion of the tube 1 is beveledas at 22 so that it can seat in the upper portion of the conical recess13.

It is preferable that the sections 5 and 6 be knurled or grooved assuggested in Figure 2 and denoted by numeral 23 to the end that the samecan be easily handled.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specificterms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, sizeand materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1 An automatic switch of the character stated comprising a body having acontact in the lower portion thereof, said body being hollow to form a.chamber, a cap removably disposed on the body and being of insulation,said cap having a tube depending therefrom and also of insulation, saidtube being adapted to depend into the body to the said contact, acontact post extending from the cap and through the tube to terminate inspaced relation with respect to the first-mentioned contact, said tubebeing formed with an opening adjacent the cap end thereof, said contactpost being in spaced relation to the tube to define an inner chamber,and a current conductive fluid normally reposed in the said innerchamber.

2. An automatic switch of the character stated comprising a body havinga contact in the lower portion thereof, said body being hollow to form achamber, a cap removably disposed on the body and being of insulation,said cap having a tube depending therefrom and also of insulation, saidtube being adapted to depend into the body to the said contact, acontact post extending from the cap and through the tube to terminate inspaced relation with respect to the first-mentioned contact, said tubebeing formed with an opening adjacent the cap end thereof, said contactpost being in spaced relation to the tube to define an inner chamber,and a current conductive fluid normally reposed in the said innerchamber, said tube being formed with a port, said cap and tube beingrotatable to permit the port to register with the outer chamber to theend that the fluid can flow from the outer chamber to the inner chamberto establish connection between the contact and the contact post.

3. An automatic switch of the character described comprising a bodyhaving a contact in the lower portion thereof, said body being hollow toform a chamber, a cap removably disposed on the body and being ofinsulation, said cap having a tube depending therefrom and also ofinsulation, said tube being adapted to be bent into the body to the saidcontact, contact being of a fluid consistency, a contact post extendingfrom the cap and through the tube to terminate in spaced relation withrespect to the first mentioned contact, said tube being formed with anopening adjacent the cap end thereof, said first mentioned contacthaving a downwardly tapering recess therein, the lower edge of the tubebeing beveled to seat in the said recess, and communicable means betweenthe chamber and the lower interior portion of the tube.

STENE E. GRAY.

